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Laticauda colubrina |
Laticauda is a genus of snakes from the family Hydrophiidae. The laticauda is the least adapted to sea life of all the members of Hydrophiidae; it retains the wide ventral scales typical of terrestrial snakes and has only a poorly developed tail fin. Laticauda are adapted to living on land and in shallow seas.
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Size
A sea krait can grow 6.5 feet long (2 meters).1
Location
The Laticauda is found through out the south and southeast Asian islands spreading from southern China to northern Australia. It is mostly found in coastal waters.1
Diet
The Laticauda feed in the ocean, mostly eating moray and conger eels. Some Laticauda eat squid, crabs, and fish. They have never been observed feeding on land.
Behavior
The Laticauda are often active at night, which is when they prefer to hunt. Even though they contain one of the most toxic venoms in the world (their bite is ten times more toxic than that of the King Cobra), Laticauda are usually not aggressive towards humans, and in New Caledonia, where they are called tricot rayé, children play with them. Bites are extremely rare, but must be treated immediately.2
Breeding
The Laticauda are Oviparous, meaning that they return to land in order to mate. Courtship involves the male twitching his body in order to attract females.
Species
- Laticauda colubrina - Yellow-lipped sea krait
- Laticauda crockeri - Crocker's Sea Snake
- Laticauda laticaudata - Blue-lipped sea krait
- Laticauda semifasciata - Black-banded sea krait
References
- ^ a b Kindersley, Dorling (2001,2005). Animal. New York City: DK Publishing. ISBN 0-7894-7764-5.
- ^ Notes du Centre d'études biologiques de Chizé (UPR1934 CNRS), CNRS DR15 - La Lettre de la Délégation n°202.
